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Bitter:Sweet: The Remix Game

By Keith Hannaleck

Artist: Bitter:Sweet
Title: The Remix Game
Genre: Electronica-Alternative Pop
Label: Quango Music Group
MySpace: www.myspace.com/thematinggame
YouTube Video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VljGLcxA1U
Free Download: www.quango.com/bittersweetpromo/
Purchase this CD: Amazon

Life can be bitter sweet, and the artist’s collaboration called Bitter:Sweet offers music that falls in line with that old saying. What started the process of The Remix Game was the enormous success of The Mating Game in 2006.

Shana Halligan (her father is Dick Halligan of Blood, Sweat & Tears) and Kiran Shahani (former Supreme Beings of Leisure) are the two shining stars of this reinvigorated release The Remix Game. Top remix producers such as Thievery Corporation, AtJazz, Skeewiff, Nicola Conte, and Fort Knox Five, take these musical nuggets and enhance, rework, and add different elements to each vibrant track. The result is another masterful recording that has taken the previous release to yet another level.

I listened to The Remix Game a few times before spinning The Mating Game and I found the recent release to be richer in content, sound, production and overall atmosphere. Upon first listen, it got my attention and curiosity aroused, particularly when I heard Shana’s vocals. She has a breathy sexy vocal style and in many ways is a throwback to the big band days (think Peggy Lee). All things considered I was impressed and felt compelled to keep listening, which I did several times, enjoying it more with each successive listen.

Although you have to narrow things down to a genre, for the sake of doing so I would call this electronica/pop, however-it is much more than that. I heard jazz, rhythm and blues, rock, hip-hop, rap, seemingly an entire menu of musical styles, all done very well and not to mention mixed superbly by the guest mixologists.

The tracks that hit my sweet spot were “Dirty Laundry” and “Moody.” The reason I enjoyed these tracks so much was the scorching guitar licks (which satisfied my propensity for rocking guitar) and the way the rest of the styles of music that were expertly ‘mixed’ in. Shana’s voice is mesmerizing to say the least and imagining seeing this music performed live makes my blood pump a bit faster than normal.

A few years ago I would not even bother listening to anything that had the word remix attached to it; thanks to an ever-expanding musical preference I have become more explorative, and with that I have found recordings such as The Remix Game to be a revelatory experience.

Reviewed - July 29, 2007

Tracks:

01. Heaven (Nicola Conte "West Coast Vibes" Remix)
02. Bittersweet Faith (Thievery Corporation Remix)
03. Overdue (Blackbeard Remix)
04. Our Remains (JAB Remix Feat. Menez One)
05. Take 2 Blue (Roy Dubb Remix)
06. The Mating Game (Yes King Remix)
07. Salty Air (Fort Knox Five Remix)
08. Dirty Laundry (Skeewiff Remix)
09. Moving Forward (Atjazz Remix)
10. Moody (Marsmobil Remix)
11. Don't Forget To Breath (Solid Doctor "Don't Forget The Beat" Remix)

About the Author:

Keith Hannaleck, known as “MuzikMan” is a Journalist specializing in independent and major music reviews and the promotion of artists via the various media outlets flourishing online. He has worked closely with artists, management, publicity directors, and webmasters to provide some of the best and far-reaching coverage an artist could have. Focusing primarily on the internet as a medium for his work, Keith has been a pioneer in the industry changing the way a reviewer with his various talents are used by many artists, PR folks, and labels. He has provided strong and valuable work to labels, artists, and publicity people, writing reviews, press releases, and biographies and much more over the years, giving the people he works with the maximum amount of exposure through several top-notch websites that post his content on their sites.

Hannaleck built and maintained his own website in 1998 while networking and building his reputation through thousands of reviews and interviews, creating a special niche for himself. Through many years of dedication and hard work, he has reached a respected level of competence and knowledge that is frequently sought by the music industry today. Known for his speaking from the heart interpretations of music and being able to put it in layman’s terms for music fans, his work is found everywhere in cyberspace and in traditional print media, from press kits to quotes from reviews in magazine advertisements.